13 cops in Maguindanao massacre seek to post bail

MANILA, Philippines -  Thirteen policemen facing murder charges in connection with the Maguindanao massacre case have asked a court to allow them to post bail.

The pleading was filed before Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of Regional Trial Court Branch 221.

The 13 policemen, through lawyer Gennodin Nilong, said they are entitled to bail and claimed that the “evidence of guilt is not only weak but there is total lack of evidence against them.”

They are SPO1 Ali Solano, SPO2 Saman Maguindra, PO3 Gibrael Alano, PO3 Alex Daquilas, PO2 Kendatu Rakim, PO2 Datu Jerry Utto, PO1 Marsman Nilong; PO1 Jimmy Kadtong; PO1 Abdulbayan Bundas, PO1 Abdulmanan Saavedra, PO1 Badjun Panegas, PO1 Abdurahman Batarasa and PO1 Marjul Julkadi.

They said the Department of Justice’s resolution indicting them “lacks any discussion of their clear participation in the carnage.”

The policemen claimed they were “at the wrong place at the wrong time” because they were seen in the area.

The policemen claimed they were in Sitio Masalay four days before the incident. They said they were deployed by Maguindanao provincial police chief Director Abusama Maguid for the implementation of a security plan for candidates filing their certificates of candidacy to run in the May 2010 elections.

They said they only set up two checkpoints, upon orders of their superior.